Distributing terminal



.1. w. CHANNELL DISTRIBUTING TEMINAL May 11, 1943.

Filed March '7, 1941 Z, md www y awa mm W L wf I4 H -2 a J Patented May1l, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE msrnmu'rnvo TERMINAL .lames w.chansen, san Marino, Calif. Application March 7, 1941, serial No.382,202

3 Claims.

My invention relates to distributing terminals for lead sheathedelectric cables, particularly aerial telephone cables. Among its moreimportant objects are; first, to eliminate the present necessity formaking wiped joints at such terminals; second, to greatly reduce dangerof trouble developing at terminal installations, as by reason of brokenjoints at terminal tails, spur holes, or cutting by clamps; third, tofacilitate inspections, and thus to reduce the time and expense requiredtherefor; fourth, to afford better means for applying and maintainingpermanent internal gas pressure in aerial cables; fth, to minimizedanger to men, and liability of injury to materials, while makingterminal installations in connection with aerial telephone cables; and,sixth, to effect substantial savings in costv of installed equipment ofthe nature indicated.

My objects are attained in the manner illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in whicha Figure 4 is a central cross-sectional view of the :l:

construction shown in Fig. 3; and

Figure 5 is view of a detail portion of the construction, in centrallongitudinal sectional elevation'taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2,Vand'on a much enlarged scale.

l'Io facilitate understanding thereof, the figures of the drawing arenot made to exact proportionate scale. They also are somewhatdiagrammatic in nature. Similar reference numerals refer to similarparts throughout the several views.

My invention comprises a one piece box-like structure which is showngenerally at II. This may well be made as a casting of aluminum alloy,finished where necessary for tight joints. 'Ihe end walls of thestruiture are bored and tapped at two directly opposite points, foraccommodating relatively large and co-axial tubular nipples I2, whichare screwed into said openings withA gastight joints. The outer` ends ofthe nipples have shallow counterbores, for containing and seating ico-axial relation to washers I3. Gland nuts I5 are adapted to be screwedupon the outer ends of nipples I2, and to engage the outer faces ofwashers I5 at their peripheries. In service, suitable compressiblepacking material I1, fills the spaces between the two split washerswithin the respective gland nuts, and I have found that ordinaryelectric rubber tapes are well adapted for this purpose. The describedco-operative arrangements of elements I2 to Il constitute stumngf boxes,through which cable sheaths I4 may pass with gas-tight joints.

Chamber IB, Within the box-like structure, is

provided with a gas-tight closure; consisting of a terminal plate I9, ofvulcanite or similar insulating material, and a gasket 2 I. The requirednumber of spaced terminal studs 22 are screwed through the plate in agas-tight manner, and their inner extremities are adapted for havingsevered ends of exposed cable conductors 23 soldered thereto. The outerends of these studs are available for having branch telephone wiresconnected thereto. Holes 24, in the main casting of structure I I, serveto position the branch wire extremities directly below the respectivepairs of terminal studs; and arms 25, integral with said casting, serveto support the branch wires before forming the customary drip loopstherein, prior to passing through holes 24. These arms also preventsubjecting the studs to appreciable lateral stresses, which otherwisethey would be called upon to sustain.

A cover 26, hinged to the main casting at 2l, serves to protect theouter face of terminal plate I9, and the outer ends of studs 22.

A screw plug 28 provides means by which chamber I8 may be filled. Asimilar plug 29 allows of draining the chamber. A third plug 3|, at theother end of the device, permits o f inserting a thermometer in thechamber. A small screw nipple 32, threaded at both ends, affords supportand connection for a short length of small copper tubing 33, and alsoattaching means for an ordi-y nary pneumatic tire valve (not shown) atits outer end. Finally, the device is provided with an up- The terminalis adapted to be used in conjunction with a through electric cable. By athrough cable, it is understood that the cable does not have any jointsor splices, or is otherwise separated.

Installations of my invention to aerial telephone cables are made in thefollowing manner.

First, the terminal is hung from the cable strand, by hooks or lashingwire, engaging holes 35.

Second, when the cable itself is strung, it is pulled through the twonipples I2, with gland nuts I5 in position thereon but the split washersand packing material omitted. Slack is left in the cable at eachterminal, to enable the operations described below to be performed.

Third, the entire terminal is slid along the cable a sufficientdistance, say to the left, to enable the nipple 32, and it is solderedto the nipple at its outer extremity, in the manner shown in Fig. 5 at39.

Ninth, the severed ends of the cable conductors are soldered to theinner ends of the proper terminal studs 22, rubber gasket 2l is placedin pesition, and terminal plate I9 is screwed tightly in positionagainst the gasket.

II'enth, a small pet cock is substituted temporarily for plug 29; and,with the cock partially closed, melted cerese wax, at a temperature ofabout 375 F., is poured through the opening afforded by plug 28. When areading of 265 F. is obtained on a thermometer inserted through theopening made available by plug 3l, the pet cock is closed. Thetemperature then will graducable to be prepared in the desired mannerfor 3l, doubled over the penetrating end of the tubing, for insulatingpurposes. Both of the cable sheath ends then have spaced circulargrooves 38 formed therein; in the manner indicated in Fig. l; to preventthe damming material from running back into the cable, except for ashort distance at the sheath ends. Such grooving is standard practice inmany organizations, and need not be described in detail here.

If the terminal is not to be used as a dam, the copper tubing, and thegrooving, are not necessary.

Fifth, the right hand gland nut I6 is unscrewed and slid along the cableto the right. One of the large washers I5 then is bent laterally in suchmanner that its radial slit opens up, and all the cable conductors arepassed through the opened slit (a few at a time) into the bore of thewasher. Then this washer is slid to the right along the cable sheath, upto the gland nut. All the cable conductors then are threaded through oneof the small split washers I3, in the same manner, and this washer isslid along the cable sheath to the right. Y v v Sixth, the terminalitself is slid along the -cable sheath well to the right, and its lefthandvgland nut is unscrewed and slid well to the left. IThe other largesplit washer I5 first, and the other Small split washer I3 afterward,are-then placed on the cable sheath at the left, in the manner alreadydescribed.- v

' Seventh, the terminal then is centered over the sheath opening, insuch manner that the sheath ends are just within the inner ends ofnipples l2. The two small washers I3 are placed intheir shallow countervbores, at the outer extremities of the nipples; and 1% rubber tape iswrapped around the cable sheath against the small washers. rIlle tapewrappings are built up until their diameters areabout the same as theouter diameter of nipples I2. The two large washers I5 are then placedagainst the respective tape wrappings, and gland nuts I6 are screwedtightly upon their respective nipple extremities.

Eighth, when small copper tubing 33 is employed, its free end is passedthrough the bore of Circular cuts are made in y,

ally drop; and, when it has reached 200 F., the pet cock should be fullyopened and the still hot cerese wax be allowed to drain of completely.The thermometer then is removed, and plug 23 is substituted for-the petcock. The terminalthen is completely filled with asphalt, at atemperature of ,240g F. Finally plugs 28 and 3l are replaced, and acapped pneumatic tire valve (not shown) is screwed upon nipple 32.

It will be evident that terminals of the kind described, may be usedadvantageously to deadend telephone cables, where distribution is to bemade to branch wires. In such cases a pipe cap may be used in place ofthe split washers, tape packing, and gland nut, on the farthermostnipple I2.

It also will be apparent that my improved method of making gas-tightcable joints may, in itself, be utilized to advantage in cable splicing,where there are no branch connections to be made. In such cases, brasspipe sleeves of suitable length, properly threaded and counterbored ateach end, may be employed for making gas-tight joints with the cablesheaths, in the manner herein described.

At branch splices, a pipe cap, or a special iinished casting, can bebored and threaded for two or more nipple stuing boxes of the charactershown in Fig. l.

By placing my terminals on the strand, and running the cable throughthem, it is possible to make gas-tight dams for the purpose of isolatingany cable section desired. Gas nipples 32 may beused either for testingor applying gas, without the use of the furnace or soldering ironhitherto required. Two such nipples may be employed, of course,connected to copper tubes in the respective sheath ends of the cable. Insuch cases the nipples may be bridge-connected if del sired, outside-ofthe terminals; and cut-01T valves may be placed inthis bridgeconnection, to make it possible to isolate a cable section. Y y

When my terminal is not to be used as a dam the ends-cfa single coppertube, bent originally in the form of an S or a figure 8, may be shovedinto each cable sheath end. This'will, of course allow gas lto -flowdirectly through the terminal.

It will be appreciated that my invention, unlike the distributingterminals which now are known in the art; has no branch cable tail tosplice into the main cable, and employs easily and safely adjustablestuffing boxes in place of the diicult and troublesome wiped jointswhich hitherto have been necessary.

I claim: f

l. In combination, an electric cable having a cylindrical sheath, and agap in the sheath expos` -ving its conductors, a terminal box throughwhich said cable extends, the exposed portion of the conductors and thegap being conned within said box, a gas supply nipple extending from theinside to the outside of the box, a tube having one end in communicationwith the supply nipple at the inside of the box, the other end of saidtube being fitted into the sheath to supply gas to the interior of thesheath, the portion of the sheath receiving said tube being clenchedtherearound to prevent the admission of the gas delivered into thesheath into the interior of the box, and the box having means wherebyunoccupied space therein may be filled with insulating material.

2. In combination; an electric cable having a sheath which affords a gapwhereby the conductors may be exposed; a terminal box enclosing saidgap, and through which said cable extends; a gas-supply tube leadingfrom the exterior of the box, 'by way of said gap, into said sheath to apoint spaced from the gap; a gas-tight seal between the walls of saidtube and said sheath where they are opposed; insulated binding posts,

extending through a wall of said box, whereby contact may be made withsaid exposed conductors separately and respectively; and means for llingunoccupied space in the box with insulating material.

3. In combination; an electric cable having a sheath which affords anopening whereby the conductors may be exposed; a terminal box enclosingsaid opening, and through which said cable extends; gas-supply meansleading from the exterior of the box to a point within said sheathspaced from said opening; a gas-tight seal for preventing escape of gasfrom said sheath at said point, into said opening; insulated terminalmeans extending through a wall of said box, whereby connection with saidexposed conductors may be made separately and respectively; and meansfor filling unoccupied space in the box with insulating material.

JAMES W. CHANNELL.

